1 13.5.16 Somewhere in France My Dear Mother, Just a few lines, now that I am able to write
once more to let you know that I am getting on alright. Hoping
yourself and all at home are still keeping in your normal good
health. I suppose by this time you will think me dead.
but thank goodness I am still on the land of the living. After
I got wounded the Chaplin promised to write to you and tell you
and so did Jack. Did they do so. You see I have not got a letter since
then. And I may tell you many a time I wondered how youse
were getting on at Home. And many a time I was very sorry that
I could not write to let you know how I was doing. But as my
hand is getting alright, I will try and explain to you how it
happened. It was on Monday night the 1st of May, and we were out
of the trenches at the time. But the Batt that we were doing
reserves to was supposed to be attacked, and we got orders to
go up to support them. It was about 10 oclock at night and very
dark. And when outside our quarters the order was given to
load up our rifles. So I happened to be rather late getting out,
and when I got out I was standing sideways to where the men were,
when one of them by accident let off a round. The bullet passing through
my rifle and exploding it in my left hand. The splinters tearing
the whole heart out of my hand. I had to go through two operations
for to get them out. It did feel sore I may tell you, but you 2 not be uneasy as I am getting alright now. As I have the
worst of it over me. And it might have been far worse if I
had lost my hand. The weather is still keeping very wet now
it is simply pouring today. I suppose it is much the same at
home. How is Annie and Jimmy getting on, I am sorry I cannot
write to them as all my writing paper is in my rucksack and
this is all I have got with me. But I may tell you many a time
when lying here I thought often about youse all. And I did not
know how youse were doing as I did not get a letter from anyone
since I got wounded. That is nearly a fortnight today. I wish
my hand was better until I would get out again as I am fed up
knocking about, and not getting any letters to know how all
is getting on. I believe all the riots in Dublin is settled and
near time too. If they would come out here they would get
plenty of fighting to do, without starting at home. If the
poor fellows had the Hour and stuff that they destroyed
out here they would be glad of it, but its as well that
they put an end to it. I think I must draw to a close as
my hand pains me still when I use it too much. Excuse the
horrible scribble. I now close hoping soon to hear from you I remain,
Your Loving Son, John Adams